Related Articles

The massive, ice-bound continent of Antarctica has captured the imagination of travelers and travel companies around the world. The continent was once a destination for only the most seasoned explorers, but it's now open to the average traveler. Whether you choose a week-long cruise or a month-long expedition-style trip, you're in for the adventure of a lifetime.

Step 1

Research the type of trip you want to take. You can choose from among many types of tour packages, from week-long cruises to longer cruises to fly-in expeditions that last several weeks. Trips depart from Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and Australia.

Step 2

Choose a tour operator. Reputable tour operators can be found through the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. You may opt to see the continent from the water, viewing towering glaciers and wildlife such as penguins and seals from the comfort of a large ship, or you might want a more challenging adventure that involves skiing to the South Pole or scaling Vinson Massif.

Step 3

Budget for your trip. Expeditions and cruises to Antarctica can cost tens of thousands of dollars when you factor in flights, fees and insurance on top of what you pay the tour operator. You may have to budget specifically for the trip and save money well ahead of your excursion.

Step 4

Prepare for your adventure. If you've chosen an adventurous land excursion, you may need to train for your trip by getting in shape for mountain climbing and skiing. This may also involve purchasing or renting gear in advance. Or, if you're going aboard a cruise ship, you may want to buy a new camera or good set of binoculars. Either way, you'll also need to book plane tickets to the departure site, and potentially hotel rooms for overnight stays before and after your expedition.

About the Author

Megan Hill is a Seattle-based writer with more than 10 years of experience. She has served as a writer and editor for websites and nonprofit organizations, as well as a reporter for magazines such as "Seattle Met," "Seattle Magazine" and "Edible Seattle."

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

Images related to Antarctica

Topographic map of Antarctica after removing the ice sheet and accounting for both isostatic rebound and sea level rise. Hence, this map suggests what Antarctica may have looked like 35 million years ago, when the Earth was warm enough to prevent the formation of large-scale ice sheets in Antarctica.

Aerial view of Mount Erebus crater, Ross Island, Antarctica

A photograph of the snow surface at Dome C Station, Antarctica, it is representative of the majority of the continent's surface. The photo was taken from the top of a tower, 32 m above the surface.